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National Media Reports

SRSG Atul Khare: the Timorese should be responsible for their
environment: The Special Representative of Secretary-General (SRSG) for
Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, said that Timorese people should be
environmentally responsible to help avoid natural disasters.

"We can only assist you for a short time. You have to be
responsible for the environment," said SRSG Khare when participating
in the ceremony of planting seedlings on Monday (21/1) in Bonuk
sub-village, Ainaro District.

It is expected that the planting programme may help avoid natural
disasters in the next five to ten years in Timor-Leste.

To protect the environment, UNDP is giving 7000 seedlings to the
community in sub-village Bonuk, Leolima village, sub-district Hatu-Udo in
Ainaro District, to be planted in the seven-hectare community planting
fields.

RTL news coverage The President of the National Parliament (NP) appeals
to all sectors of society to contribute to solving the problems of the
country: The President of the National Parliament (NP) has appealed to all
sectors of society to contribute towards solving the problems of the
country.

The problems of Alfredo Reinado, the petitioners and IDPs are national
problems that require the conscience and contribution of all sectors,
including political parties.

* * *

SRSG Atul Khare: the Timorese should be environmentally responsible

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Timor-Leste,
Atul Khare, said that Timorese people should be environmentally
responsible in order to help avoid natural disasters.

"We can only assist you for a short time. You have to responsible
for your environment. We have to force ourselves to end the problem of
deforestation," said SRSG Khare while participating in the ceremony
of planting plants on Monday (21/1) in Bonuk sub-village, Ainaro District.

It is expected that the planting programme may help Timor-Leste avoid
natural disasters in the next five to ten years. (TP)

UN raises US$22M for Timor-Leste

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) of
the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste, Finn Reske-Nielsen, said that
in 2007 UN organizations in Timor-Leste raised US$22M for the development
of the country.

DSRSG Finn also said that US22M was provided by the international
community.

"The fund has enabled the government to provide food and
humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) …,"
said DSRSG Finn on Thuursday (17/1) in Obrigado Barracks, Dili.

DSRSG Finn was responding to a journalistâ€™s question about UN
support in 2007. (DN)

Screening of the F-FDTL is a positive step

The decision of President (PR) José Ramos-Horta to screen the Defence
Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) is a positive step that will help solve the
political and military crisis of the country.

"… PR Ramos-Horta, as the Supreme Commander of F-FDTLL, has made
this decision to help find a solution to the problems of the petitioners,
including Alfredo Reinado," said Duarte Nunes, a member of the
National Parliament (NP). (DN)

Branco: "Threatening journalists reveals a dictator's
attitude"

From a political statement in the NP, a NP member from Fretilin,
Francisco Miranda, stated that the attitude of Prime Minister (PM) Xanana
Gusmao is similar to that of a dictator who intends to curb press freedom,
in light of his threatening comments to journalists.

"If he feels offended by a media publication, any citizen of this
country may bring such a case to the court, but threatening is not
acceptable," said Mr. Miranda on Monday (21/1) in the plenary session
of NP in Dili.

However, the NP member from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said that
Fretilin are just "playing politics" and Fretilin should only
complain if the Alliance Government starts putting journalists in jail or
sanctioning them. (DN and TP)

Alfredo Reinado: "People can decide whether I'm a rebel or
not"

Alfredo Reinado said that only the Timorese people can decide whether
he is a rebel or not, not internationals, since he has never stood against
them or their nations.

According to Reinado, contextually the internationals are the rebels
because they have exploited the opportunity presented by the crisis.

Alfredo declared that he is not a rebel as long as he has not committed
any action against the people. (STL)

Tilman: NP may invite Xanana to give his opinion on Alfredo's CD

A member of the NP from KOTA, Manuel Tilman, said that he is asking the
NP through the President of the NP Fernando Lasama to invite PM Xanana
Gusmão to give his opinion on Alfredo's CD which has spread widely in
Dili and in which the PM was accused of being the author of the 2006
crisis.

'We all know that Xanana used to be the leader of the army, the
clandestine movement and the diplomatic front, and then brought us a
referendum to achieve independence. That's why I request through the NP
President that we invite PM Xanana to explain the political truth,"
said Mr. Tilman on Monday (21/1) in the NP, Dili.

The Vice President of the NP, Maria PaixÃ£o, said that the suggestion
will be discussed.

"There are many CDs from Alfredo's, not only accusing Xanana, but
also accusing other people, including PM Mari Alkatiri. We might ask all
of them to come and explain the truth to the NP," said Ms. PaixÃ£o.
(DN)

Administrative reform: government signing an accord with UNDP

PM Xanana Gusmao on Monday (21/1) signed an accord with the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) to support the Ministry of State
Administration in their project to reform public functions.

"We are working on a program and need to improve the capacity of
public servants.

The accord is signed so that UNDP could assist the government's
work," said PM Xanana in Dili.

The project is signed for five years, between the government of Timor-Leste
and UNDP, until 2012 and entails supervising public servants to help them
to deliver give good services to the people and the nation. (DN, TP and
STL)